Substance abuse and addiction have continuously prevailed in New Jersey. With yearly treatment admission rates on the rise, the state is in increasing need of major intervention.

The issue originates from socioeconomic factors, including unemployment rates leading to financial strain. It also comes from the state’s proximity to drug trafficking routes.

New Jersey Addiction Treatment Centers

Aside from that, the increasing addiction rates in the state bear multiple impacts, such as heightened mortality rates, growing HIV concerns, and mental health challenges.

Plus, the issue also places strain on New Jersey’s healthcare system and economy due to exhausting resources and reduced productivity, respectively.

Understanding the Scope of Addiction in New Jersey

The New Jersey Substance Abuse Monitoring System (NJSAMS) has collected over 88,000 substance abuse admissions in 2022. Approximately 36% of those admittances were alcohol addictions, while 38% originated from heroin addictions.

The remaining admissions dealt with marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, and other drug or opiate complications.

New Jersey residents continue to bear the brunt of addiction due to factors like opioid prescriptions. The major issue can be traced back to the 90s when these opioids were advertised as safe and non-addictive by pharmaceutical companies.

The second factor that heavily influenced residents occurred in 2010 when policymakers restricted prescription rules, making them more challenging to get.

In addition, New Jersey’s strategic location between New York and Philadelphia makes it an optimal route for drug smugglers to airports and seaports.

The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) reported that major drug rings in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia deliver extensive amounts of drugs, like heroin via airports, seaports, or land.

Types of Addictions Commonly Treated

Addiction treatment in the Garden State has skyrocketed in the past decade, with over a 700% increase in admissions to treatment centers.

Drug Addiction

New Jersey has faced multiple types of drug addiction issues, with new synthetic options on the rise. The most common drug addictions in the state include heroin, prescribed medications, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, and other opiates.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is widely available and highly accessible, making it one of the most common addiction issues in New Jersey. It also accounts for 36% of substance abuse treatment admissions, increasing from 2019’s 31%.

Behavioral Addiction

One of the most common behavioral addictions afflicting New Jersey is compulsive gambling. A study suggested that more than half of 18 and 20-year-olds have gambled in 2022. 25% of the group had shown symptoms of gambling addiction.

A majority of these individuals showcase mental and substance abuse complications as well. These percentages are likely on the rise due to the increasing accessibility of gambling through legalized sports betting, the prominence of Atlantic City, internet gaming, and online casinos.

On top of compulsive gambling, internet addiction also poses an issue, not only in New Jersey but the entire country, with over 48% of users categorized as addicted to digital devices.

Treatment Options Available in New Jersey

Fortunately, New Jersey is equipped with numerous treatment options to rehabilitate its residents.

Inpatient Treatment Centers

Inpatient treatment centers provide a controlled environment with round-the-clock care. Patients are required to stay in the residential treatment center, which varies in service level. Some options offer a hospital-like setting, while others resemble resorts and spas.

Outpatient Programs

Outpatient programs are less restrictive and generally offered after inpatient treatment. They involve allowing the patient to stay home or in a community setting while still receiving emotional support.

Besides that, the treatment is typically divided into two options: partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs.

The prior provides five to six hours of treatment five to six days per week. Meanwhile, the intensive choice gives three hours of care, three to five days weekly.

Detoxification Centers

Detoxification centers are treatment places that help patients withdraw from drugs and alcohol. They also treat individuals exposed to too much substance abuse.

Specialists work by removing any drug or alcohol content from the patient’s body as a form of detox. Afterward, the patients are sent to inpatient or outpatient programs to begin their psychological treatment.

Specialized Centers

Specialized centers target individual and tailored requirements. They can focus on detailed issues. For instance, that can involve a center specialized in treating heroin addiction for male teens.

New Jersey’s Approach to Holistic Treatment

New Jersey’s approach to holistic treatment holds various focal points, including your body, mind, and soul. The treatment works by integrating traditional and alternative therapies to address mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

The approach concentrates primarily on mindfulness. Once patients become mindful and reflect on their experiences and attitudes, they can reach a higher level of self-honesty and awareness, leading to acceptance.

Additionally, holistic treatment prioritizes prevention rather than treatment alone. It also stresses the importance of developing a quality relationship between patients and healthcare professionals.

As for physical treatment, patients are encouraged to undergo habitual practices like meditation, journaling, and exercise.

Financial Aspects and Accessibility

Treatment costs primarily vary depending on the care level you’ll receive. The timing also influences the cost, whether you enroll in a 30, 60, or 90-day program.

An outpatient treatment in New Jersey can cost an average of $1,700, whereas, for residential treatment, the price can skyrocket to $56,570.

Regarding insurance coverage, most providers factor in substance abuse treatment and mental health services. Nonetheless, you should contact your health insurance provider to ensure they offer this coverage.

If you don’t have insurance, you can look into various state-funded options offered by charitable and non-profit organizations like Catholic Charities Hope House, CURA Inc., Maryville, and New Hope Integrated Behavioral Health Care.

Alternatively, you can research programs that offer sliding scale fees adjusted to your income. You can also opt for scholarship and community service financial aid programs that target substance abuse.

Supporting Recovery: Aftercare and Community Programs

New Jersey offers a wealth of recovery support during aftercare, including sober living homes and transitional housing. You can explore places like South Jersey Recovery Residences Sober Living and Hazel House Sober Living for recovery.

In addition to these aftercare methods, patients can enroll in 12-step programs provided by organizations like Healing Us. They implement specific phases that help you and those around you in the community to manage addiction.

Initial steps include admitting powerlessness against the substance you abuse and believing in a higher power that can help you overcome the addiction.

Besides that, the state offers preventative programs like the 21st Century Community Learning Center that tackles drug prevention. It provides counseling services in several forms including through the arts, physical fitness, and wellness education.

Legal and Policy Framework

In line with New Jersey’s policy framework, all addiction treatment centers must be licensed by the State Department of Human Services (DHS). They must also comply with the framework’s regulations.

Policies regarding addiction treatment centers are located in Title 10, Chapter 161A till 163. These state laws heavily detail the procedures, requirements, and regulations that go into opening an addiction center.

Regulations aside, the state has provided multiple initiatives to mitigate the impact of rising addiction. One of them includes 10 STAR, which focuses on giving recovery support to people who recently got out of prison.

Testimonials and Success Stories

From the New Jersey Recovery Center, users share their heartfelt stories of support. One patient mentions, “I have not seen a more family-oriented facility that treats their clients like they are part of the family, going beyond what anyone would expect a treatment center would do to help the client.”

Other programs like ReachNJ have garnered positive influence, with clients saying, “I don’t think I would have gotten through this without your team’s help. When it felt like our world was at its lowest, your team was there to help us back up again. I can’t thank you enough.”

How to Choose the Right Treatment Center

Choosing the right treatment center is a vital step for you or your loved one. You’ll want to consider several factors like:

  • Certifications
  • Licensure
  • Treatment Success Rate
  • Insurance
  • Location
  • Staff Qualifications
  • Treatment Modalities
  • Patient Reviews
  • Specialized Program
  • Program Length
  • Post-Treatment Support

All these factors are necessary to consider and depend on your case. For those dealing with long-term, life-threatening addiction, prolonged inpatient treatment with specialized care should be prioritized.

One of the most crucial factors on the list is success rate. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to search for options boasting 100% treatment cures. On the contrary, those choices are the ones you should avoid.

Instead, look for centers that collect their outcomes using research-based methods. In addition to success rates, finding a well-tailored program for your needs is essential to get the most out of your experience, whether that involves enrolling in gender or age-specific programs.

Conclusion

New Jersey’s State Department of Human Services has shown its commitment to tackling substance abuse and behavioral addictions.

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has provided continuous support and care outreach to those in need, including creating a directory.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, the first step is to ask for help and use available local resources.

References

  • https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview/2021/statewide.pdf
  • https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs0/669/heroin.htm
  • https://pinnacletreatment.com/blog/substance-abuse-addiction-nj/
  • https://www.alinalodge.org/addiction-treatment/substance-abuse-statistics-for-new-jersey/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20there%20were%2087%2C745,Heroin%20(38%25)
  • https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview/2019/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview%20Statewide%20Report%20-%20%202019.pdf
  • https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/information/provider/Provider_Meetings/2023/Problem%20Gambling.pdf
  • https://www.statista.com/statistics/1343695/us-users-addiction-digital-devices/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%202022%20survey,addicted%20to%20their%20digital%20appliances.
  • https://fherehab.com/learning/center-offers-specialized-care
  • https://northjerseyrecovery.com/programs/holistic/
  • https://drugabusestatistics.org/cost-of-rehab/
  • https://sunrisehouse.com/addiction-treatment/state-funded/
  • https://www.alltreatment.com/sliding-fee-scale-rehabs/
  • https://valleyspringrecovery.com/addiction/drug/statistics/new-jersey/#:~:text=Illegal%20Substance%20Abuse,meth%20or%20heroin%20in%202018.
  • https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/rpt/pdf/2016-R-0248.pdf
  • https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=00JAA5OTY5MTdjZi1lMzYxLTQxNTEtOWFkNi0xMmU5ZTViODQ2M2MKAFBvZENhdGFsb2coFSYEAfv22IKqMT9DIHrf&crid=952ac4d6-cbe6-433e-8212-b57a2733c789&prid=40ab2c03-1f68-4bc3-b5fd-15e74904a925
  • https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/initiatives/opioid/
  • https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/rehab-treatment/how-to-choose-addiction-treatment-center
  • https://njsams.rutgers.edu/TreatmentDirectory/License